Windows PCs in the Ministry

Copyright © 2010 by Thomas Nelson Publishers

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Book Interior: Stephen Ramirez

Editor: Gabriel Hernandez

Series Editor: Michael Lawson

Produced in Association with Lawson Music Media, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN: 1418541737

ISBN-13: 9781418541736

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 What Does Technology Have to do with Ministry?

Ok, This is Going to Hurt a Little

The Why Behind the Why?

Do You Like to Fish?

It’s Time to Get Uncomfortable and Wade Into the Cold Water

Is it About Control?

Is Money Really an Issue?

Communication Methods Have Become Age Specific

Computers and the Communication Tools They Represent are Vital to Ministry

So How Does One Utilize Computers Running Windows for Ministry?

A Call to Train or Disciple Their Members in the Teachings of Christ

A Call to Evangelize or Reach Their Community with the Message of Salvation

A Call to Grow and Encourage the Body of Christ Through Fellowship and Commitment

A Call to Gather Together to Worship God

Chapter 2 Computers and Worship

So What Do Computers and Windows Have to do with Worship?

How Did Computers Get into Our Worship Services?

Worship Presentation Software

MediaShout

EasyWorship

The Right Font is Crucial

One More Word About Hymns versus Contemporary music

Displaying Songs Requires a License!

The License Agreement

A Word About Projectors and Screens

Think Outside the Box

Using Video in Worship

Video Loops for Your Song Service

Sermon Illustrations

A Word About Informal Videos

Using Video Clips from Movies

The CVLI solution

Using Text During Worship

What About the Offering . . . Is Electronic Giving Feasible?

Chapter 3 Computer Communication Tools and Options

LISTSERV

Yahoo Groups

Broadcast Emails

What is the Best Way to Send Out a Broadcast Email?

Texting

Texting and Ministry

Text BELIEVE to 44636

Many Options

Text Messages Get High Open and Read Ratings

Texting Prayer Requests

Twitter

Chapter 4 Personal Communication Age

Communication Has Changed, Drastically

Tapping into PC

Don’t Church it Up

Social Networks

Problems, Concerns and Warnings

Social Networking and Evangelistic and Ministry Opportunities

MySpace

Facebook

How Can I Protect My Children on Social Networking Sites?

Covenant Eyes

Parental Monitoring Software Program

But I Trust My Children

I’m Still Not Convinced About Social Networking

Social Networking on MyChurch (www.mychurch.org)

Christian Alternatives for Social Networking

Warning to Parents!

One Christian Social Networking Site Gets Two Thumbs Up

Church Management Software and Social Networking

Logos360

Twitter—A New Way to Social Network

Chapter 5 Websites

Give Me the Basics

What to Avoid

What Should I Do?

Is Your Site Live or Static? Web 1.0 or Web 2.0?

Know Your Purpose

What Do People Want When They Visit Your Site?

A Live Site Has Five Unique Qualities

Using Your Web Site for Training and Discipleship

Outside Christian Learning Services

Doing it Your Way

RefTagger will Bring the Bible Alive on Your Site

Using your Web Site for Evangelism

Using the Bridge Strategy

Connection and Opportunities for Feedback

Using your Web Site for Fellowship and Commitment

Use Your Imagination

Using your Web Site for worship

Using your Web Site for Service and Missions

Spiritual Gift Assessment

Online Giving

Website Ministry Specific to your Membership

Construction of your Web Site

Content Management System Features

Website Services Specific for the Needs of a Church

Finding the Right Service for Your Needs

CMS Testimonies

Additional Services, Solutions, and Links to Expand Your Web site’s Ministry

Elexio Infinity—Ministry Website Plug-ins

SermonFlow from faithHighway

ServiceU Provides Several Add-on Services to Your Web Ministry

Small Group Web Solutions from Upper Room Technology

Add a Powerful Calendar to Your Site

Websites Married to Church Management Software

MyFlock.com

ChurchCommunityBuilder—www.churchcommunitybuilder.com

Church Management Software Applications for Your Web Site

CDM+ Web Ministry Tools—www.cdmplus.com

eTapestry—www.etapestry.com/

Fellowship One, Fellowship Technologies—www.fellowshiptech.com/

MemberConnect, Concordia Technology Solutions—www.ctsmemberconnect.net/

Excellerate—www.excellerate.com

ACSTechnologies—www.acstechnologies.com

ParishSOFT—www.parishsoft.com

Icon Systems—www.iconcmo.com

Shelby Systems—www.shelbyinc.com

RDS Advantage—www.rdsadvantage.com

Joomla!

Joomla! Features

Help the Search Engines Find Your Site

Blogging

WordPress

Use Your Blog to Reach a Seeking Community

A Few Other Blogging Tips

Chapter 6 Podcasts

Why Podcast?

A Truly Novel Idea to Podcast—Radio Dramas

So, How Do I Create a Podcast?

How Can I Get My Recordings to Stream from My Site?

Create Your Recording

Getting Your File on the Internet

So What is Podcasting?

Why is Podcasting So Popular?

So How Do I Turn My MP3 File Into a Real Podcast?

Podcasting Services for the Christian Community

What Else Can I Do with My Podcasts?

Chapter 7 Creating and Using Video for Ministry

Video and Windows

Why Create or Use Videos in Ministry?

Too Much of Anything Can Be Negative

Background Loops

Countdowns

Christian Video Services Available on the Internet

Self-produced Videos

Editing Programs and Services

Some Affordable Stock Footage Sources

Some Basic Rules in Filmmaking

Setup

Tell a Story

Storyboard

Framing and Composition

180-degree Rule

Cut-ins and Cutaways

Camera Movement

Lighting and Audio

Advanced Video Techniques

Informal Video

Video On-Demand

Streaming LIVE Video

The How to

Really, Really Simple? ChurchonVideo.com

Virtual Church

Video is King

Chapter 8 Computer Bible Study

Bible Study Software has Come a Long Way

How to Study the Bible

Studying Passages in Context

Consulting References

Wildcard Searches

Windows Reference Materials

Benefits of Using Bible Software Over Books

Basic Features of Bible Study Software

Four Great Bible Study Programs for Windows

Online Bible Study Services

Chapter 9 Facing Our Anxiety and Implementation of New Technologies

Be Anxious for Nothing

Implementation of New Technologies

Take Things One Step at a Time

Add the New without Throwing Out the Old

Survey Your Membership

We Really DON’T Have Any Money!

Use Your Imagination and Be Open to the Holy Spirit

Stay Informed

Index

Acknowledgements

Iwould be incredibly remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to thank my Savior for all of the opportunities I have been given to serve Him, including the writing of this book. One of my favorite scriptures is I Cor 1:27, where God declares he can use the foolish and weak to confound the wise and the strong. For, I know how foolish and weak I really am, and I am always humbled by any opportunity to be used by Him.

Along those same lines, I must acknowledge the help of my loving wife Gina, who has provided me the inspiration to accomplish things I never thought possible. Her love and support allows me to stay focused on serving my Lord, and I know she is one of the many blessings He has bestowed upon me.

I also need to thank all of those that helped me during the writing of this book, including Gregory Fish who has served as my consultant in the area of video production, and Kevin Purcell who also serves as my consultant, consistently keeping me up to date on the latest features that emerge in the area of Bible study software. During the course of writing this book, I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to consult with more people than I could ever list. My sincere thanks go out to each for patiently helping me gain a clear understanding of the many products and services that I’ve been able to include in the writing of this book. I appreciate the host of friends and colleagues that have helped keep me abreast of the continuously changing technology landscape.

Preface

The ministry of the church has not changed over the centuries, but the methods and tools used to accomplish today’s ministry certainly have! Computers have evolved into today’s communication centers, allowing us to take the message of salvation, hope and love as mandated in the Gospels and present it in exciting and vibrant ways, both to the masses, and on an individual basis. This is vital for the church, since we are a people with The Message ! The good news is that technology has not only made it possible for anyone to make major enhancements to their ministry, but they can now do it using free or inexpensive applications or services as well. You no longer need an expensive, powerful computer with high-cost software to produce quality media. Now, as a result of the Internet, thin-client and cloud computing services, you can produce and distribute exciting media to your congregation and community, as well as to the nation and the world.

Introduction

This book will present a variety of ways to use technology to enhance and expand ministry using Windows programs and Internet services. If you are reading this book, then hopefully you’re seeking to learn how to use computers and technology to expand and enhance your ministry opportunities. Every church has a mission and ministry. And while the methods have changed over the centuries, the message remains the same: Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and He is the answer for many who are seeking. The church, in general, is losing its opportunity to get that message out to our nation. This is due in part to changes in technology, which often reflect new methods of communication. Unfortunately, most churches have failed to willingly use these new communication tools, and thus have passed on various opportunities to share the Gospel with many in our nation.

Why? In the book, The Blogging Church, written by Brian Bailey with Terry Storch, a good job is done of defining this problem. They state, Although churches are necessarily grounded in technological traditions, this commitment often becomes a commitment to methodology as well. There is a firm resistance to change within a typical church, and technology is certainly an agent of change. New technology often redefines staff roles and processes, many of which have been in place for years. With change comes conflict and perceived loss of control.

So, while some churches still sing about telling the old, old story, we are faced with the challenge of using modern tools to reach new generations. I do not believe that the advancement of technology is happening by accident. Nor do I believe we are clever if we use these tools supposedly designed for the purposes of the world and adapt them for our intention. The fact is, during my last 20 years in the industry of reporting on technology and its use by Christianity, I have discovered that some of the brightest minds working in the highest levels of technology today are brothers and sisters in Christ. I have met those that are creating the fastest chips for Intel, and they are Christians. I have met leading officers at our nation’s communications companies, and they are Christians. Those that pioneered the ability to give our television and cable networks the ability to broadcast live camera shots and commentary of events happening around the world are Christians. I am not saying that everyone working at the highest levels of technology is a born-again believer, but I am no longer surprised when my connections bring me face-to-face with people who are working at our nation’s top technology companies; only to find out they are Christians. I believe that the advances in technology that we are seeing are not only being created for the world’s marketplace, and to boost the stocks of large companies, but also for the purposes of God and for his people to use to spread his Word around the world, and to allow us to minister to our local congregations in fantastic new ways.

Walt Wilson, in his book The Internet Church, states, The dramatic and startling changes seen through the lens of technology indicate that God is doing something tremendous at this moment in history. These developments are changing society, economies, and politics at an increasing rapid pace. It is important for the positioning of the church and the delivery of God’s message in the 21st Century that we understand the direction and speed of these changes. (pg 43)

Throughout the book I will also reference specific products, and in some cases provide feature lists with descriptions of what the products can accomplish, specifically as they relate to ministry. I am aware that in spotlighting particular products or services offered by various companies, other companies that provide similar products or services might feel overlooked. It is simply impossible to provide a list of every product or service available in the areas I will cover. Please know that I am merely mentioning the programs that I am aware of, and will try to provide additional information about other products when possible. New products enter the market all the time, and I am certain they provide services that are fantastic. In fact, I am sure something was launched as I wrote this paragraph! The purpose of this book is to introduce the reader to the many ministry concepts and Internet services available to them in a Windows-based computer environment. Let me apologize in advance if I have failed to mention your favorite product or service.

Special Note about the Title

The title of this book, Windows PCs in the Ministry, should be defined. With each passing year those that use computers on a regular basis should notice that there are more and more online services available to them, as opposed to programs that have to be installed on their computers. Computing is quickly moving toward what is known as cloud computing, which means users are accessing programs that are available online. For example, Google has recently designed and released a collection of online applications that include a spreadsheet, word processor, and other useful, everyday programs. Regardless of the operating system you use (Windows, Macintosh, Linux, etc.) you can easily access and use any of these services.

In this book, I talk about the use of both programs and services. And obviously those using various operating systems (OS) will be able to take advantage of the services available through online application services. However, the distinction in the title of this book is designed to help readers understand that program suggestions will be based upon the Windows OS.

CHAPTER 1

What Does Technology Have to

Do with Ministry?

Technology is more than gadgets, shiny monitors, fast computers, cool programs and other services on the Internet. The computer, and the many applications that have been developed since their introduction into our society, have become the leading way for many in our society to communicate. Thus, it has become the glue that binds relationships, the source for growing friendships, and provides the connection tools that help keep families together. In essence, the ability to communicate via the Internet and mobile computing devices has begun to bury traditional mass media communications.

Newspapers and those who have lived by the barrel of ink for the past century have had to adapt. Television has not been able to increase its audience, and those that provide our national news have had to adapt to the new tools in order to broadcast their message or face the reality that their message will go unheard. Even those running for the presidency of the United States have realized the power of personal communication options and have made great use of tools like texting. In fact, President Barack Obama may have obtained the highest office in the land because of his willingness to expand into new ways of spreading his message. Yet, many of those with the greatest message—and the most pressing need to communicate that message—have held back. The church, by far, is one of the last institutions in America to press forward and effectively use technology, and especially the communication opportunities that come with it, for their own purpose.

What does technology have to do with ministry? Maybe everything!

Christians are now making up a declining percentage of the American population.

The statement above was published in Newsweek, April 4, 2009, in an article entitled The End of Christian America (by Jon Meacham). It wasn’t intended as an attack on Christianity. It also wasn’t spin by those hoping to discourage the church, nor was it a proclamation from a victory party held by those who have worked hard to remove the visible symbols of Christianity from public view. Instead, it was a simple fact. The church is declining in America, and frankly, at an alarming rate.

According to the American Religious Identification Survey, the percentage of individuals in America that identify themselves as being a Christian has fallen by 10 percent since 1990. That means the population in America that admits to being Christian is around 76 percent. Some would blame other religions that have experienced some growth in America during the last decade. However, the number of people who state they are not affiliated with any particular faith has doubled since 1988, going from 5 to 12 percent of the American population.

In addition, the overall number of people that identify themselves as members of a Protestant denomination in America has declined over the last 10 years by 9.5 percent, while the national population has increased by 11 percent.

Why is the number of Christians declining? Around half of all Christian churches in America did not receive a single addition to their membership as a result of someone having a conversion experience. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research believes there are 300,000 churches in America. If this number is correct, that means 150,000-plus churches opened their doors each and every Sunday to hold services, yet went the entire year without seeing the result of one person coming to a conversion experience and beginning a walk with Christ. They sang hymns which gave testimony to the glory and majesty of God, served as verbal testimony to those sitting in the pew around them as they declared their desire to serve the Lord with gladness, and wished they had a thousand tongues to sing of their great Redeemer’s praise. Following these musical outbursts of dedication and testimony, someone stood in the pulpit and preached a message, with most using passages from the Bible. Many of these attendees found themselves surrounded by stained glass, pipes that were connected to air bellows and an organ, and a large wooden cross. Yet with 150,000-plus churches doing this week after week, 52 weeks per year—and many holding not one, but two services on Sunday—not one person who’d been living without Christ decided to convert and become a Christian.

With those statistics and track record, it should be obvious as to why we are declining in numbers. We’re simply not getting our message out to those that need to hear it. America is not hearing the testimonies we are singing as we sit in our pews on Sunday. Why are they not impressed as we sing about God’s power, his sweet Holy Spirit, and his joy, joy, joy, joy, down in our hearts? Could it be that they are not hearing our songs? Maybe they’re not aware that we put steeples on our roofs because they are symbols that the church is the place to come to find God. It could be that when they drive by our church signs and see that we’re having an organ recital on Sunday afternoon that this is our way of inviting them to come to Jesus and have a life-changing experience. It could also be that the lines of communication have broken down somewhere!

OK, THIS IS GOING TO HURT A LITTLE

I know that my words might sting a little, and that my sarcasm might seem harsh. But we are losing the opportunity to win our nation to Christ, and Christianity is dying. So, while some of what I have yet to say will hurt, my intent is not to harm. There is a difference. Dentists hurt, but they do so in order to help us have better teeth. Doctors have to hurt, but they do it because sometimes it is necessary to prevent real harm. I hate it when my doctor says, Ok, this is going to hurt a little, but I know that sometimes I have to endure a little pain in order to experience the overall benefit.

In reporting about church growth in America between 1990 and 2000, George Barna and Mark Hatch reported in their book, Boiling Point, that More than 80 percent of the adults who get counted as new adherents and thus as a part of the growth statistic are really just transplants from other churches—religious consumers in search of the perfect, or at least more exciting and enjoyable, church experience. Disturbingly little church growth is attributed to new converts. All in all, it was not a good decade for church growth. (pg. 236)

Some point out that all is not lost. While the overall number of churches in America is declining, there are also many new mega-churches popping up across the country. Willow Creek, Saddleback and other mega-churches are commonly known names in Christendom. They give us hope for the chance to turn around this slide away from Christianity that American seems to be going through. Yet only two percent of churches in America have 1,000 or more adults attending in a typical week.

THE WHY BEHIND THE WHY?

There are many articles on why America is moving away from Christ. Some believe it is because of the messages sent by Hollywood to our movie theaters. Others believe it’s because of efforts to remove God and Christ from the public view. Some might claim it’s because public prayer has been removed from our schools. Frankly, I don’t believe that any of these can be blamed for the decline in the number of Christians in America. I am a firm believer that anytime the church is ready they can bring their light out from under the bushel, and that nothing will be able to hide it. We know that Christians can thrive in the midst of persecution. Christians started and spread across the known world during a time of worldwide persecution, leading to the martyrdom of the very apostles that helped spread the Word. From pulpits across America, I have heard people declare different reasons for the decline of Christianity in America, yet I believe most are missing the real reason for our decline

I don’t believe we’re losing the battle because the world has overcome us, and in fact the Bible declares this will never happen. I don’t believe that people are turning away from Christianity because we suffer such great persecution here in the United States. If something or someone is to blame for the decline of Christianity in America, it is the church itself. Most churches simply do not set a high priority on using the tools available to them to bridge the communication gap that separates the way we used to do things from the way we need to do them today in order to communicate the Gospel to our nation.

The tools already exist for churches to reach their communities, and we just need to use them. We need to recognize that we’re not just talking about computers, computer programs and Internet services; we’re talking about communication tools and opportunities.

I have seen them. I have seen them in churches up north, out east, and even down south in our nation’s Bible belt. Over the years I literally have visited hundreds of churches in my travels across the country while speaking at conferences. I have visited Churches of all denominations, flavor and size, and I have heard from church leaders who share with me their frustration in dealing with church memberships that purposely stand in the way of their church using the necessary tools to communicate the Gospel to their communities. I have heard the excuses and the illogical reasons. I have been invited to speak at churches across the nation on how to use the many new tools available to help expand the ministry of churches in our nation, and everywhere I’ve been I always find those that resist the chance to look at new technology tools to advance their ministry. They simply don’t want to change and they do not want to be uncomfortable with anything that takes them out of their comfort zone.

We are failing because too many of our members, and too many of our leaders, don’t want to be uncomfortable. They don’t want to try something new, or learn a new technique. They are happy to have become keepers of the fish bowl, instead of fisher’s of men.

DO YOU LIKE TO FISH?

I love to fish. I love to fish for bass, crappie and catfish, all native to my native state of Missouri. I also love to fish for trout.

In Missouri, trout fishing is different. In our state we have to go to special trout farms since trout are not natural to our state. Normally our lakes and rivers are too hot for trout. But there are a couple of places where we have large natural springs where the water is ice cold.

Since I love to fish for trout, I’ve discovered a perfect place down at Bennett Springs State Park. There is this one spot in one of the streams where I know there is a hole. And while the water goes by swiftly at the surface, the hole itself is a great place for the trout to drop in and feed. There are different fishing rules for different areas in the park. Up near the spring, you can fly fish only. A bit farther down the stream, you can use spinners and lures. My favorite hole is in an area where you can use live bait, and if you put a minnow on a hook in front of a shinny spinner and wade out into that cold water and drop your bait just above that hole and let it drift down, you will normally catch your limit in about an hour or so.

A couple of years ago, I took some friends down to Bennett to fish. The night before, in anticipation of everyone in our group catching their limit, I told them all about my favorite spot and what to do. I even drew a picture of where my special hole was. We all got up at 5:30 a.m. to be sure to reserve our spot on the side of the stream so that when the whistle blew we could all wade out and catch some trout. Well, when the whistle finally blew, my friends followed me and we all waded out into that cold stream, grabbed a minnow and were ready to go. I noticed everyone in my little party was standing around me ready to learn exactly where to cast except for the wife of one of my friends. When she hit that cold water she decided it was too uncomfortable for her, so she decided she was going to fish on the side of the stream. I tried to tell her that from where she was standing she would never be able to cast out far enough to reach deep enough water to catch anything. We were fishing with very light tackle and two-pound test line, so were very limited in how far we could cast. She informed me that she really didn’t care as the water was simply too cold, and it was more comfortable for her to sit in a folding chair on the bank rather than wade out into the cold water. She also had an issue with using minnows, and decided to fish with a bare hook and spinner. After a couple of hours everyone else in the group had a nice stringer of trout . . . all except one. And you can guess which one it was, right? She hadn’t caught anything. Now, the point could be made that everyone had an equally good time, and she actually seemed to enjoy the morning on her lawn chair casting out into the water near the shore. She never got a bite, nor caught a fish, but she made it clear that she wasn’t disappointed and as good a time as any one of us did.

My point is this: She didn’t catch any fish. And she was happy about not catching any fish. This is a great example of what is happening in many churches today. They are not willing to do anything uncomfortable, and are happy with the appearance that they are trying. As long as they maintain that appearance, continue to be a part of the group and are comfortable, then the end result doesn’t really matter.

But when it comes to the mission and ministry of a church, results do matter. Many years ago, steeples on the buildings, organs with pipes, and stained glass were all the allure we needed to let seekers know that the church was the answer and the way to find God. Today, this simply doesn’t work.

The fish are biting, but we’re not using the right bait. You might say that I’m wrong, that we’re not catching anything because the fish simply aren’t biting. If you look around you will see that this simply isn’t true, and here are two glaring examples to prove it.

First, visit any bookstore and you will find a large selection of books under the heading of Spirituality. People are seeking spiritual things. They have become disillusioned with a church that insists on trying to reach them without answering their questions. The Bible is applicable to today’s problems and does have the answer to the questions people have. It’s just that most churches refuse to wade into the cold water and bait the hook with the items that men and women are seeking.

Barna and others report that the search for spiritual answers is on the rise, although church attendance is on the decline and there are less and less Christians each year. Why? Barna reported in 2001 that within this decade as many as 50 million individuals may rely solely upon the Internet for all of their faith-based experiences. And what do they find if they visit a church Web site? They find a picture of the church’s pastor, maybe a picture of the building, a church services schedule and, if they’re really innovative, a map to help find the building. This is not what people are looking for when they’re up late at night, sitting in front of their computers desperately surfing the Internet for answers.

IT’S TIME TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE AND WADE

INTO THE COLD WATER

Churches that are made up of older adults (yep, those of us 50 and over) will die if they don’t recruit new members in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. It’s a fact . . . they don’t have a choice. So the choice is to get a little uncomfortable and wade into the water, or just hold on to the illusion and convince yourselves it’s enough. This doesn’t mean that church members who don’t like to text must start texting. It does mean, however, that the older members of the church—normally the financial backbone of a church—need to commit to supporting new ways, new ideas and new methodology in order to expand and enhance their churches’ ministry. They can’t just sit it out. All of us need to be held accountable for our part in the evangelistic impact of the churches we belong to and attend.

I